Belagavi: The Gram Devi fair in Toranagatti concluded on Wednesday, marking the end of a nine-year gap since its last occurrence. On this final day, the two goddesses ventured into different lanes of the village alongside Honnata, visiting devotees’ homes to receive their devotion.
Honnata holds significance as a symbol to ward off evil spirits. It is customary for devotees to carry Durgi Rupini on their shoulders during this procession as protection against malevolent forces. As part of this tradition, the fierce form of the goddess sheds a symbolic stream of blood onto a round ball representing evil demons. It’s believed that this symbolizes the flying of kumkum-bhandara.
During the procession, accompanied by drums, halage, trumpets, karadi majalu, and various leather instruments, the goddesses paraded through the village in Honnata’s form. The Darigunta Bhandara’s hood was adorned with amber and engulfed the entire town in an aura reminiscent of flames.
Intriguingly, it appeared as if there were crowds embedded within the hood of this warehouse, pouring out when observed from below. Following Honnata in the evening, traditional customs involving visits to villages and concluding festivities wrapped up this year’s edition of the Gram Devi fair at Ramadurga.